Board denies siding and window changes at 2055 West Wesach after unpermitted exterior work

The Compliance and Technical Advisory Board voted Feb. 20 to deny an application for exterior changes at 2055 West Wesach Avenue after staff presented evidence of unpermitted work and a stop-work order. Staff recommended restoring a historic siding profile, reinstalling or salvaging original wood windows, and restoring gable vents.

Caitlin of staff told the board that "for any of the work that you see that has been recently completed, no COA had been applied for nor issued," and that the stop-work order had been issued Jan. 4, the application was received Jan. 6 and the strike team visited on Jan. 7. Staff reported that at least one historic window had been removed and replaced with a nonconforming product after the stop-work order and that staff was unable to determine the full scope of post-order changes from the available evidence.

Applicant Clinton Popham said he had purchased the house to flip and that the property previously had aluminum siding covering damaged original siding. He said some windows were removed and replaced in the renovation and acknowledged continuing some exterior actions after receiving the violation. "When we purchased the house to to flip, it had aluminum siding covering up rotten waterfall," Popham said, and later acknowledged he had proceeded with some work while beginning the COA process.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on why exterior changes continued after the stop-work order and whether he had contacted the Monticello Historic District Association; the applicant said he had not reached out to the neighborhood association but had spoken to historic-office staff when the violation was issued. Commissioners emphasized that owners in historic districts must follow preservation guidelines and recommended that the applicant work with both staff and the neighborhood association while restoring original materials when feasible.

A committee member moved to support staff's denial and the staff recommendations numbered 1–4 (restore historic siding profile at the front façade; restore fenestration; reinstall original or salvaged wood windows where removed; restore gable vents). The motion was seconded and carried by roll call.

The board directed the applicant to work with the Office of Historic Preservation and neighborhood resources on a path to compliance and restoration. Staff noted that some original windows appear to have been discarded, which affects options for reinstallation or salvage.